Post on 24-May-2015
description
Using Data as a Nonprofit Employee:
Creating a Data-Positive Culture Within Your Organization
Jodi BenensonDirector of Research, YNPN Boston
October 15, 2014
“Without data, you're just another person with an opinion.”
~ W. Edwards Deming
What is (are) data?
• Facts, information, or statistics collected for calculations, reference, or analysis
• Data is vs. data are
What makes an organization’s culture “data-positive”?
• When an organization:– relies on data to make
decisions– uses data that align with
all facets of the organization
– encourages and celebrates data collection and analysis for internal and external use
What can we do to shape the data culture within our respective organizations?
Three Tips
1. Demonstrate the value of data on an individual level
2. Tie the data to the organization’s mission
3. Disperse the data squad
The Context: YNPN Boston
• Mission: to develop a stronger, higher impact nonprofit community by engaging young professionals and their organizations
• All volunteer-run– 5 board members (and growing!)– 20 ambassadors
1. Demonstrate the value of data on an individual level
Advisory Council
Co-chair 1
Knowledge Manager
Co-chair 2
Technology Manager
Communications Manager
Ambassador/Events
Team
Recruitment/
Membership Manager
Treasurer/ Secretary
Event/Community
Building Ambassadors
In 2011-2012...
Professional development
goalsProfessional development
needs
Communications
Programming/Events
Demographic information
Event survey from launch
event
Opportunities to get involved
Chance to win a prize
Wish list of program offerings
2. Tie the data to the organization’s mission
2. Tie the data to the organization’s mission
Board Chair
Management TeamOperations Team
Director of Operations
Director of Talent Management &
Recruitment
Director of Development &
Strategic Partnerships
National Liaison
Director of Strategic
Implementation
Director of Membership &
Volunteers
Director(s) of Communications &
Technology
Director of Programming
Director of Research/Knowled
ge
In 2012-2013...
A More Strategic Approach
• Professional development survey
• Focus groups• Post-event
surveys• YNPN National
survey
3. Disperse the data squad
Where We Are Today
What are we up to now?
• Young Nonprofit Professionals Survey– Turning data into stories
• Resource list for young nonprofit professionals
• Interviews to understand membership models
• Database
Wrapping Up
1. Demonstrate the value of data on an individual level
2. Tie the data to the organization’s mission
3. Disperse the data squad
Concluding Remarks
• Alignment between data and the organization's mission and structure
• Building a culture around data takes time
• Find your “data people” in Boston’s nonprofit sector
Questions?
Contact info: jbenenson@ynpnboston.orgFor more on YNPN Boston, visit: ynpnboston.org
Resources
• PerformWell.org: Offers a variety of webinars (e.g., one on evidence-based practices in organizations)
• BostonIndicators.org: The Boston Indicators Project at The Boston Foundation
• BethKanter.org: A social media blog that often contains info about data and research
• FiveThirtyEight.com: Fun data resource